|
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga |
| The
Sun Never Sets on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math |
|
by
His Divine Grace Srila |
| Srila Guru Maharaj's prediction |
| Srila
Guru Maharaj composed a sloka when Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math was in a
thatched hut in Nabadwip on the banks of the River Ganges. In thirty-two
minutes he composed a sloka giving so much glorification of Chaitanya Saraswat
Math. Inconceivable! At that time there was only a bamboo pole with a flag,
but that bamboo was very tall, and Guru Maharaj composed this sloka: "Srimach-Chaitanya-Saraswata-Mathavara-udgita-kirtir
jaya-srim...." His very affectionate Godbrother gave the land for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, but even he was surprised to hear that sloka of Srila Guru Maharaj. He said, "Sridhar Maharaj made a great sloka in unbelievable glorification of Chaitanya Saraswat Math, but we are seeing only one bamboo and one flag!" After hearing this, I told Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj said, "You can tell Satya Babu: 'If you come, you will see what will be here in the future!'" Satya Babu was a very dear disciple of Saraswati Thakur. Today we are seeing that Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world. What is inconceivable is that everyone is taking the Chaitanya Saraswat Math banner and going country to country. Sripad Goswami Maharaj, Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj, Sripad Janardan Maharaj and others are all taking the banner of Chaitanya Saraswat Math everywhere. They are going to Russia, Ukraine, Siberia ó everywhere ó we cannot conceive. In temperatures of minus forty degrees they are also preaching Krishna Consciousness. Inconceivable. I cannot go there, but they are tolerating all the austerity. Sripad Goswami Maharaj and Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj have given full attention to Russia. Now Russia is a big center of Chaitanya Saraswat Math. It has spread all over the world. |
| Who will conceive it! |
| We have
an ashram five miles in length and breadth. I cannot conceive it. Who will
conceive that? Also in California, ten minutes from the ocean is a big Chaitanya
Saraswat Math. Sripad Janardan Maharaj is staying and preaching there ‚
100 meters of land. Inconceivable. In Australia, there are 240 meters of
land, seven acres, and two ashrams, with new devotees making another two
there. Chaitanya Saraswat Math is going everywhere and we are surprised,
but this was the vision of Srila Guru Maharaj within that thatched room. The glories of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math are overflowing. Now I am seeing you all have come here from Hungary, Germany, Holland, Poland, America, England, France ‚ everywhere. Now this Mission is everywhere, and we can feel the sun never sets on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. California is thirteen hours different from Nabadwip. Then when night comes in Nabadwip, in California the sun is shining; and when it is night in California, in Nabadwip the sun has risen. Therefore the sun is never setting on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Russia, Siberia, Alaska. We cannot conceive. I cannot conceive. I did not know any English, and I told Guru Maharaj, "I do not know English, but I will try, and I shall preach." Guru Maharaj said, "When the time comes, English will come to you." I am surprised, and now I am thinking it is true. I can speak something in English now. In the Spanish-speaking world, there are hundreds of disciples. They cannot speak English, and I cannot speak Spanish, but they are sitting with me and smiling, very happily. What can I say? If Krishna wants to give, then Krishna is giving. Everyone is getting Krishna Consciousness, but if it is not Krishna's wish, then it is not possible. |
| Fulfilling Srila Saraswati Thakur's desire |
| It is
the desire of Srila Saraswati Thakur. He wanted to spread Krishna Consciousness,
and that desire was finally expressed through Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. Prabhupada made a tunnel through every country. He broke down
the ego of the Western world. He did such a great thing, and in every country
we are following his footsteps ‚ everywhere. Even in Iran hundreds have
become devotees and are following Krishna Consciousness. Actually the Western
world did not know Krishna Consciousness before Prabhupada gave it by the
wish of Srila Saraswati Thakur. And Saraswati Thakur wanted through Guru
Maharaj to keep Krishna Consciousness in the finest way for the whole Western
world. Today, by His Divine Grace, we have some qualified sannyasis, devotees, and they are still preaching in every country. There are thousands of people following us. We cannot conceive, but it is happening and in this way Krishna Consciousness is spreading to the whole world by the grace of Guru Maharaj. He is sitting in Samadhi, no doubt, but from Samadhi he is projecting his divine ray through all the sannyasis and brahmacharis. A few days ago, I sent Paramahamsa Maharaj to Venezuela. There, 300 devotees chanted, danced, and inaugurated Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurachandra. From there, I sent him to South Africa where he preached in three cities. Then he went to Turkey. There are so many devotees there, and this year new things happened. In the street and in the market in Turkey, Paramahamsa Maharaj sang with the devotees "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda..." and, "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare...," this Mahamantra. He sang with difficulty ‚ a miracle. We cannot conceive that. Even, I was worried they may kill him. Then Paramahamsa Maharaj will go to Russia with us for preaching. Three months out from Nabadwip now, and in this way he is preaching all over the world. It is not a light matter; it is Krishna Himself doing this. If He wants to enter into their hearts, who will check Him? Otherwise, it is not possible. We do not know their language, we do not know their culture, we do not know anything, but we are going to them, and they are chanting and dancing with the Mahamantra, Radha and Krishna Themselves. |
| In my lifetime I am seeing it happen |
| Fifty-six
years ago, I joined this mission. At that time I had Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's
book, and there Bhaktivinod Thakur said that within fifty years, the whole
world would come to Mahaprabhu's place and would dance with Mahaprabhu's
Indian devotees. We did not believe it. We thought it was so much talk,
but in my lifetime I am seeing it happen. Sripad Sruta Srava Prabhu is here
in white cloth, but he is always preaching, and the Russian devotees like
him very much. Many times he went to Russia for preaching, answering questions,
and they are joining with our Mission. Now in St. Petersburg there is a very big Math. The temple room is 120 feet long, and the breadth is maybe 75 feet. Because the country is very cold in the winter all devotees stay inside, and the whole house is warm, so no problem. Outside there is ice and inside it is warm. They made three separate buildings there, and Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-Radha-Madhavasundar are installed there. The devotees worship Them every day with an opulent program. In Moscow, you know, our ashram is next to the KGB. Inconceivable. In our three or four story building there is so much opulent activity, and it is right next to the KGB. There they made a restaurant where 100 people work. How big a restaurant you can conceive, where 100 people are working. In this way the activity of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is going on by the grace of Srila Guru Maharaj. He has spread his divine vision, and with that sloka he expressed the Rupanuga conception will be exposed and spread by the devotees of Chaitanya Saraswat Math. They preach this conception all over the world. It is my Guru Maharaj's divine will, and it must be manifested in the future. Guru Maharaj wrote that sloka over sixty years ago, and today I am surprised that I have come out from India twenty times for preaching all over the world, and many times more than that, Sripad Goswami Maharaj, Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj and Sripad Janardan Maharaj, these sannyasis in front of me, are always going for preaching, morning to night. Continuously for over twelve hours a day their programs are going on. They are making all arrangements. They rent big halls, cook, and distribute prasadam. First they hold a meeting, then breakfast, then a meeting, then lunch, then a meeting, then dinner. In this way they are doing everything, and hundreds of thousands of people are joining their preaching programs. I heard the public are buying tickets for hearing Hari-katha. Buying tickets! That type of attractive, prestigious preaching program they make. It is impossible to think, but they are buying tickets to hear religious discourses. In Mexico there are nine ashrams, big ashrams. The government is giving land to make ashrams. In America there are six ashrams. Now in India also the Math is expanding. Before there was one ashram but now there are eight ashrams including one newly-built ashram in Bamunpara. In this way, our missionary preaching is happily going on. |
| Possible only through Krishna Conciousness |
| Here in
Italy you are seeing how happily it is going on. With very much austerity
last night you came, but I am seeing everyone's faces are very happy. Which
way is it possible if Krishna Consciousness is not within your heart? It
is normally impossible to tolerate this type of austerity, but you have
all come from far to be here happily at this new ashram, and I am very,
very happy because I do not know if I can come again or not. If possible
I can come, but I am thinking day by day my lifetime is growing shorter.
I am sitting here, but I cannot stand properly, and I need to stand for
two minutes, then I can walk. This is my body's condition. I have heavy
spondilitus and my nervous system is injured, but still my brain is fifty
percent working [laughter]. I am extremely happy because Sripad Bon Maharaj has mercifully come from Rome, a long seven-hour journey, with some devotees to join this festival. He is a very good Vaishnava, and Guru Maharaj gave him his name: Sri Bhakti Madhur Bon, the sweetest heart of His divine form. His heart is very sweet. I do not know English but in some way I am expressing myself. So many have come: Sri Govinda Prabhu and Sri Lekha D.D. from London, Premanidhi Prabhu, his wife and daughter from Germany.... I am so fortunate that I have this type of Vaishnava association, the Vaishnavas' mercy for preaching Krishna Consciousness under the guidance of Srila Guru Maharaj. Very, very fortunate, no doubt. [Srila Gurudeva then concludes his talk by singing 'Sri Rupa Manjari Pada....'] |
Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip: